Departure:You should be early enough to leave at the stated departure time.

Safety:All sporting and leisure activities have inherent hazards associated with them and rambling is no exception. In spite of the safety of members being the paramount concern, accidents may occasionally occur. It is important that each member appreciates that they should identify any hazards and take all reasonable steps to eliminate or minimise the potential for an accident to arise.

Dress:Suitable clothing and footwear must be worn. Leaders have the right to refuse inadequately equipped persons to join the walk.

Food:Bring adequate food and drink to suit the length of the walk and time of year.

Start Point of Walk: Where possible the start point of the walk is given but please contact the walk leader if you wish to go direct to the start point.

Cars: Car sharing is encouraged and passengers are requested to pay a levy for mileage costs as set out in the table below.

Non-Members:Non-members are welcome to join 2 or 3 walks free of charge. If they wish to continue after this, they will be expected to join the Ramblers Association.

Grades of Walks: Grades are decided by leaders to help you, but are only be a guide. Contact the leader if you need more information about the degree of difficulty and terrain.

E Easy – leisurely and mostly flat, easy gradients/slopes

M Moderate – will usually include some short climbs

M+ Moderate plus – will have longer or steeper climbs, as described in the longer description

S Strenuous – more challenging, often with stiff climbs over rough terrain, good fitness level required.

The length of the walk is given in miles and is combined with the grading, so that 5 E = 5 miles Easy and 10 S = 10 miles strenuous.

All walkers participate in any walk at their own risk. If in doubt of your fitness to participate in any walk, please ring the leader who will be happy to tell you about the walk. In bad weather the leader may have to change the route of the walk or even cancel the walk.

Guidelines for Walk Leaders

‘Recce’ the walk beforehand

Carry a relevant OS map in case you have to deviate from the planned route

Carry a mobile phone for use in case of emergency (or arrange for one of the group to have one)

Carry a survival tent available for collection from Chepstow, Monmouth or from previous leader

Carry a basic first-aid kit

If not meeting the group at CLC, make arrangements for someone to take the group to the start point

Welcome the group before starting the walk and introduce those walking for the first time, summarise the distance, terrain, food stops and comfort arrangements

Check that all members of the group are adequately clothed and appropriately equipped for the walk

Make sure you know how many are in the group before you start the walk

Delegate a back-marker to ensure that gates are closed and that slow walkers are not left behind

Stop occasionally for group to catch-up, allowing last walkers to catch their breath before moving off

Check numbers after each main change of direction

On summer evening walks carry a torch

Guidelines for Members on Group Walks

The leader decides the route so you should stay behind him

Always inform the leader or back marker if you make a comfort stop and drop behind the group

Always inform the leader if you have to abandon the walk for any reason

In general, you should avoid using mobile phones during the walk except in cases of emergency